Jenn's Journey's

In 2011 I bought my first passport and 10 years later it expired with zero stamps to show for it. In fact, I really hadn’t traveled anywhere. So, in 2022 I renewed my passport and my sense of adventure. I promised myself no matter what, now at age 40, I was going to start living! This girl is ready to see the world! Having never traveled much before, I am learning as I go. Doing things on my own, I am here to share my experiences as a new traveler and hope to inspire anyone out there looking to do the same.

“The only impossible journey is the one you never begin.” – Tony Robbins

2 days in Paris! Not much time, but enough to experience something special. Paris was like a photo, everywhere you looked. Not somewhere I thought I would find myself, however luck brought me here and a memorable experience it was! 

Day 1, The Louvre is a must see! I think it’s a faux pas to leave Paris without seeing the Mona Lisa. Definitely an aww inspiring place overall. One of my favorite things about Paris in December was the Tuileries Garden Christmas Market. Right outside The Louvre was this amazing Christmas Market that was a huge WOW for me. It’s where a fair meets food and shops. From the cutest French shops to pastries, chocolates and the best comfort street foods and mulled spiced wine, this is definitely worth checking out! (P.S. If you can’t decide what to try, get yourself some au gratin potatoes!) 

Day 2, starting the afternoon with the most fabulous lunch at the most beautiful restaurant in all of Paris – Restaurant Le Dali at Le Maurice. This TWO Michelin star restaurant nestled in this 5-star hotel will not disappoint! The risotto with black truffle shavings… C’est magnifique! Not to mention the endless homemade bread, YUM!

As you’re strolling through Paris for the day, check out the famous Champs D’Elysees with all of your major shopping and when you make it to the end, snag that perfect picture in front of the Arc de Triomphe (www.paris-arc-de-triomphe.fr)! Once you’re done, within walking distance is one of Paris’ best little cafes, Carrette Cafe where they have the most delicious espresso and macaroons! Then just a quick 5-minute walk, you’re ready to snap photos in front of the Eiffel Tower at sunset! 

If you’re looking for a hotel in a great location that offers a great price, check out Hotel Ares Eiffel Paris (ares-paris-hotel.com). There were tons of restaurants, shops and metro in this area and central to most things you’d want to see. 

Visiting the UK in December was quite the experience! Not exactly the time of year I ever thought I would find myself here, but nonetheless I was going to make the most of my 2 days in London!

The key was finding the perfect location to stay and where else but Kensington! It just sounds fancy, right? Had it not been as cold as it was, this is a great walkable location to a lot of major sightseeing attractions! Otherwise, a very quick uber ride to everything you’ll want to see! If you decide to stay in Kensington, I recommend checking out The Bentley Hotel London (thebentley-hotel.com). It’s a mixture of old London charm with luxury. Just around the corner, whether you stay here or you’re in the area, you MUST try Fait Maison (www.fait-maison.co.uk) for breakfast – WOW! I actually dream of this place and may start a petition for them to open one in Southern California!

It was a quick trip, so after process of elimination we hit the major “must-sees” – Buckingham Palace, Big Ben, House of Parliament and we just had to find the iconic red phone booth! Aside from the main attractions, if you’re in to shopping you will want to check out the famous Harrod’s! And if you’re in London at Christmas then you won’t want to miss hitting one of the many Christmas Markets! The Borough Market (boroughmarket.org.uk) was super cute, tons of vendors with cheeses, pastries, hot chocolate and mulled wine! 

If you’re looking for an unforgettable dining experience, go to HIDE (hide.co.uk)! A fantastic 1 Michelin Star restaurant in Picadilly that you will be talking about for days after! Get on those reservations because it books fast! If you’re not looking to break the bank, just stop in for a drink and enjoy the ambiance! There are also tons of restaurants and pubs with great local food, and I wouldn’t leave London without getting some authentic fish and chips! 

Finally, if you’re looking for a night out and want to go to a club, try Cirque Le Soir (www.cirquelesoir.com). This club isn’t for the faint of hearts! If you’re feeling adventurous and have an open mind, check it out 😉 I won’t spoil the surprise. 

Where do I even begin!? Let me take you on a journey of what might have been the most beautiful and magical trip. I spent 10 days in Italy traveling from city to city, exploring some of the most picturesque places I’ve ever seen. This was my first time travelling overseas and I made the trip solo (gasp!). I was terrified and excited and I’m here to tell you, if you’re considering a solo trip and are having doubts – here is your sign to DO IT! You won’t regret it… 

I already had in mind some of the major cities I knew I wanted to see; the rest was just creating a road map to get myself there (pun intended). As a planner, here are some things that helped me along the way, and some places you may want to check out! 

First, I was traveling to from Vencie down to Sicily, so the biggest question was “How do I get around Italy?” As a first-time traveler that isn’t accustomed to public transportation, I opted for a rental car. This may not seem like the most convenient or affordable option, but it was going to put my mind at ease. But hey, if you’re a train connoisseur then I encourage you to follow what works for you! If you are going to rent a car, my two tips are (1) manuals/stick shifts are more popular so if you aren’t familiar with it, make sure you specify renting an automatic as they are more rare and pricier, and (2) get familiar with Italian highways! There are tolls and you’re going to want to make sure you’re prepared. Check out the Autostrada website for good information! 

Now, let’s make our way through Italy, shall we! 

Venice: I had 2 days in Venice and this city completely captured my heart unexpectedly in just a short amount of time. After a 60-minute water taxi ride from the Venice Airport to my hotel which was located in the San Marco area of Venice, I was transported to another world! I stayed at Hotel San Samuele (www.hotelsansamuele.com), only a 5-minute walk from the water taxi drop off, which was VERY convenient because I didn’t realize how many cobblestones and stairs Venice has! (Another tip: Try and get a hotel near a water taxi stop, you’ll thank me later). Hotel San Samuele is a great bang for your buck, super cute and clean but very small rooms and no elevator. Also, great location and walkable to everything you’ll need or a quick water taxi ride to anything you’ll want. You’ll obviously need to go on a gondola ride while you’re here! I think in Venice it’s a non-negotiable, honestly. But in all seriousness, it was romantic, peaceful, fun, inspiring an unforgettable. The rides average $80 Euro (cash only) but I hear you can negotiate (I did not try). There are tons of museums and things to see, but I spent my time strolling the streets and checking out the shops, the architecture and trying any gelato and pastries I could. I ended my trip at a fabulous restaurant called Ristorante Lineadombra (www.ristorantelineadombra.com/en/) in the Dorsoduro area. The homemade ravioli, Bellissimo! 

Tuscany: 2 days in Tuscany isn’t quite enough, but I made the most of my time here and couldn’t have asked for a better experience for the short amount of time! I decided on the Chianti region to stay in because, well… Chianti = Wine, of course! I found the most amazing farmhouse, 10 out of 10 I would recommend checking out Borgo Divino (www.borgodivino.bio)! This organic winery has everything you need from their own wine tasting, truffle forging, a cooking class to some of the best food I’ve ever had! Seriously, DO NOT leave here without getting the Risotto or the meat and cheese platter with truffle honey (oh ehm gee)! There were a couple of hiking trails, but not a walkable location to a lot of activities although there are some other local wineries in the area to venture out for more wine tasting. About an hour away from Florence, this location is more for people looking for a quiet getaway with amazing views. If you’re going in the fall, just don’t forget your bug spray! Mosquitoes are rampant this time of year! 

Rome: What do you do when you have less than 2 days in Rome? You definitely have to visit The Colosseum, The Vatican and Trevi Fountain. The Trevi Fountain was amazing, so beautiful and luckily it doesn’t take up much of your time. Right in the heart of downtown Rome, grab some gelato and stroll around. Heads up, it’s one of the more crowded tourist spots! When going to The Colosseum, I would recommend scheduling a tour. Viator was a great source (www.viator.com). I did a self-guided tour and found it to be helpful to skip the lines and it got me passes to both The Colosseum and Palatine Hill (which I highly recommend!) Finally, grab a ticket to The Vatican before you go, as the lines are pretty long if you try to get one there. Somewhere you can spend an entire day but if you can’t, just don’t leave without seeing the famous Sistine Chapel! Rome wasn’t a place that I got to eat at a ton of restaurants, more like a grab-and-go city since you’re always moving! If you’re looking for a place to stay that is in a good location and not going to break the bank, check out Best Western Hotel President (www.hotelpresident.com). It’s not the Italian charm you might be looking for, but the amenities are great, and the location is perfect with a 10-minute walk to The Colosseum and the metro is right outside for a 10–20-minute ride to the Trevi Fountain and The Vatican. 

Naples: Where the city meets the ocean! If you’re looking for a great location with stunning views, then Chiaia is the ideal spot. You’re going to find a ton of high end, luxury shopping and some of Italy’s best restaurants. Via Chiaia is filled with all your high-end stores and mixed with some authentic Italian shops that make it really interesting. If you’re in the area, don’t be afraid to turn down a narrow street to find some handmade pizza (Dee-Lish!). I must say, I splurged on my stay here and if you want to do the same, check out Grand Parkers Hotel (en.grandhotelparkers.it), trust me! Not only is it in a great location, it has a fantastic roof top bar with an ocean view. Bonus: A 1 Michelin Star Restaurant and a James Bond Theme cocktail menu! Even if you don’t stay at Grand Parkers, the George Restaurant is something you wouldn’t want to miss, just make your reservations in advance! If you’re just looking for a neat experience with a great view for the night, have a drink at the Piano Lounge on the roof top terrace and enjoy the sunset!

Off to Sicily! I opted for a 45-minute flight out of Naples, but there is also an option to take a train. 

Sicily: In a word, BREATHTAKING. I stayed in a town called Taormina, which is located on the eastern side of Sicily on the Mediterranean ocean. Sitting mountain top, I had to opt for a hotel that had a balcony and Grand Hotel Miramare (www.miramaretaormina.com) was perfect! If you decide to splurge and upgrade to a room with a balcony, it will be the best decision you’ll make! They offered a great breakfast, however no lunch or dinner option. The good news, this hotel is a 10-minute walk from everything you could possibly want. Endless shops and restaurants and 5-minute walk from the cable car (hope you’re not afraid of heights!) which takes you to the beaches and water activities. What I loved most about Taormina was the relaxed feel of everything and the quality of food. Some of the best burrata I’ve ever had! Everyone was so nice, and the food was incredibly fresh! This is a place I can’t wait to visit again. 

By far Italy was an experience of a lifetime and if you’ve ever considered any part of Italy as a location you’ve been wanting to visit, I encourage you to! 

Puerto Vallarta

Ahhh, Mexico! 4 days in Mexico was a perfect getaway and Puerto Vallarta was the destination of choice! While I’m looking forward to going back and seeing more of what Puerto Vallarta has to offer, I was blown away by the food and sunsets that I experienced!

If you find yourself in Puerto Vallarta and just want to relax and enjoy some downtime and great food, I have some recommendations that you cannot miss! 

In the heart of Zona Romantica, you must check out Mar Y Vino (www.maryvino.com) for lunch. It’s a great rooftop bar that offers a unique experience you won’t get anywhere else! Not to mention the best ceviche you’re going to have! And you can’t leave without trying one of (if not both, like I did!) the best ocean front restaurants with to-die-for sunsets views for dinner. El Dorado (www.eldoradopvr.com) was so good I ate there twice! Definitely try the white corn cream soup and the espresso martini (chef’s kiss!) But honestly, I kept going back because of the live music. Ok, and the espresso martini… And right next door is La Palapa (www.lapalapapv.com) which offers amazing cocktails and fresh seafood that it delicious! Finally, if you’re looking for an unforgettable experience and don’t mind splurging, then Casa Kimberly (casakimberly.com) is for YOU! The Iguana Bar and Restaurant has a stunning wrap around patio that overlooks Puerto Vallarta and the fine dining and good wine make this place a must try! Hopefully you make it there during Mariachi season because the music definitely makes the ambiance something special! 

Aside from all the yummy food, my goal this trip was some good old fashion R&R! It was April in Mexico, after all. The weather was gorgeous, and I wanted to take advantage of it! I stayed at The Pinnacle Resorts (pinnacleresortspv.com) and the roof top infinity pool did not disappoint! I still dream of lunches by the pool with the 360-degree view of PVR! And if you want some extra ahhhh’s, down the street is Elite Spa (elitespamassagepuertovallarta.com) where I got the best massage! The sweetest staff and you’ll leave feeling amazing!

All in all, Puerto Vallarta and my first trip to Mexico was a succuss! 

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